Biodiversity, Water and Cities Outcomes of CBD COP-10. David Coates Secretariat, Convention on Biological Diversity

Transcription

1 Biodiversity, Water and Cities Outcomes of CBD COP-10 David Coates Secretariat, Convention on Biological Diversity

2 Overview of the presentation: Some conclusions re. the review of biodiversity and water underpinning outcomes CBD COP-10: The importance of water (not covered in detail here you know already!) Water and poverty reduction The economics of water Water and climate change Water and biodiversity linkages CBD COP-10 outcomes On water On cities and local authorities Ramsar COP-10 outcomes

3 The problem? Ramsar Convention Rio Conventions- CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD

4 19 th 20 th Century perspective water use biodiversity Tough Luck

5 21 st Century? water use Biodiversity Ecosystem Services

6 19 th 20 th Century perspective Biodiversity as the victim (road-kill) Oooops.. Development

7 21 st Century? Biodiversity in the right place Sustainable development

8 What is the relationship between biodiversity and water?

9 The role of biodiversity in water supplies -interdependency between terrestrial, soil/ground and aquatic ecosystems needs better recognition

10 The role of biodiversity in water security natural water infrastructure

11 Water and the Millennium Development Goals

12 Some economic information OECD countries + BRIC (only) Currently spend $750 billion per year on water infrastructure (high proportion being spent by cities) Developing countries do not have this money to solve their water problems They need better approaches Better use of natural infrastructure Estimates of investment requirements in water infrastructure by 2030: $ 22 trillion

13 2009 World Economic Forum: "We are living in a water bubble as unsustainable and fragile as that which precipitated the collapse in global financial markets", concluding that "We are now on the verge of water bankruptcy"

14 An example trends in natural disasters - flooding

15 Economic costs of natural disasters (- mostly water related) Billion $ % GDP Losses % GDP Economic Losses Richest Nations Poorest Nations Disasters Losses, Total and as Share of GDP, In the Richest and Poorest Nations, (world watch 2001) 2 0

16 Water and climate change

17 How important should water be as an issue under climate change? IPCC: "the relationship between climate change and freshwater resources is of primary concern and interest"; "water resource issues have not been adequately addressed in climate change analyses and climate policy formulations"; "water and its availability and quality will be the main pressures, and issues, on societies and the environment under climate change" climate change mitigation is about carbon adaptation is about water

18 CLIMATE CHANGE Changes in water availability 2050 (compared to )

19 Using natural infrastructure for sustainable water supplies for cities: Many cities already actively use natural infrastructure to solve water related problems: Catchment management/rehabilitation for improved water quality PES schemes already well developed Wise use of wetlands (natural infrastructure) for flood management 35-45% of cities get their water from protected areas A key response to pressures and trends will be to store more water Consider storage options in ecosystems

20 Outcomes of CBD COP-10

21 CBD COP-10: Water recognised as : A service provided by ecosystems (both quality and quantity) underpinned by biodiversity The key global natural resource challenge A key link between the various MDGs The principle link between biodiversity and broader economic, development, public, political interests Makes biodiversity more obviously relevant to broader range of stakeholders (mainstreaming biodiversity) The key link between biodiversity, desertification and climate change (3 Rio Conventions) A cross-cutting issue for the Convention Water now incorporated better into the (new) Strategic Plan for Biodiversity Specifically under target 14 water has paramount importance

22 CBD COP-10 recognition of the roles of sub-national and local governments Decision IX/28 encourages CBD Parties to recognize the role of cities in national strategies and plans, invites Parties to support and assist in implementing the Convention at local level Decision X/22 endorses the Plan of Action Strategic Plan for Biodiversity: By 2020, biodiversity values have been integrated into local development and poverty reduction strategies

23 Plan of Action on Sub-national Gvts, cities and local authorities Subnational and local gvts encouraged to prepare Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans in line with National BSAPs Biodiversity incorporated into and measured for subnational and local/urban planning, use of relevant tools and guidelines; CEPA activities in support of the CBD take place at each level; Broader engagement of sub-national gvts in implementing the CBD and better understanding of biodiversity issues by subnational and local gvts

24 Partners Steering Committee of Cities Advisory Committee of Sub-National gvts in development (Role for scientific institutions?) Global Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity

25 Ramsar Convention Lead implementation partner for wetlands for the CBD Has developed extensive guidance on wetland management Ramsar COP-10 (Changwon, Korea, 2008) Resolution X.27: Wetlands and urbanisation Recognises the importance of wetlands to urban areas Recognises the importance of urban authorities in promoting the wise use of wetlands

26 Summary CBD COP-10 (and Ramsar COP-10) important: Cities identified as a key stakeholder group Water/wetlands identified as one of their key interests The approach moves beyond providing water for nature to: using nature to sustainably supply water Rapidly developing partnerships for implementation

27 Thank you

28

29

30 Thank you